Blast From The Past

While driving to southern California from Phoenix for my 'family get-together' in December we saw a 'blast from the past'....the dinosaurs!  Located just off the I-10 in Cabazon (between Banning and Palm Springs).  We used to pass them while driving from Long Beach to our friends home in Rancho Mirage (near Palm Springs)....the kids would always want to get out and look at the dinosaurs....and many times we did.  There was only one at the time (now there are two plus a small 'museum').

The main reason we did not go into the dinosaur museum is because we knew they were going to be pushing evolution.  We know we did not evolve from others, and that we are wholly made by God.  And it was not our desire to see another version of how it 'could happen'.  Still the outside ones were obviously not made to look like 'real dinoseaurs' but rather what others thought they looked like...it was fun this time by ourselves as it was when the kids were young and they wanted to climb all over the one dinosaur that was there.

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2011, all rights reserved

Advent Calendar - December 21 - Christmas Music

Christmas Music is our theme for the day at Geneabloggers.com (a group of worldwide genealogists writing about their family history). The prompts or suggested ideas for the month of December relate to the the Advent season.  This is my ninth post using the Advent prompts.

Although I love all Christmas music I must say I love the ones the talk sing of Jesus and His birth the most.  My favorite Christmas song is a newer one: 'Mary, Did You Know?' - it really speaks about the true meaning of Christmas.  Another song I love is also newer 'Christmas Shoes'.

I use YouTube to listen to music...I have a Christmas 'playlist' with over 200 songs on it....I can listen to music for hours on end and never have to listen to the same one twice.  I truly love the music of Christmas and can listen to it all month long easily...but on the other hand when Christmas is over I'm ready to go onto listening to something else.

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Advent Calendar - December 20 - Religious Services

Religious Services is our theme for the day at Geneabloggers.com (a group of worldwide genealogists writing about their family history). The prompts or suggested ideas for the month of December relate to the the Advent season.  This is my ninth post using the Advent prompts.


1) Did your family attend religious services together during the Christmas season?

As children we always went to midnight Mass. It was a beautiful service and very traditional and warming.  As an adult I went with my husband to mainly Baptist churches.  There were no midnight services or even services on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve unless Christmas landed on a Sunday.  But the churches were all beautifully decorated.  The Wednesday evening service before Christmas was usually a Christmas Service.  


This year our Christmas service was the Sunday before Christmas...the choir put on a beautiful Cantata.  Cantata's are the norm in the churches we've attended and we've always really enjoyed them...they are a beautiful way of showing Jesus' love for us by coming to earth as a baby and completing His time on earth by dying on the cross to save us from sin that we might have eternal life.

2) What were the customs and traditions involved? 

My sister reminds me (I don't remember, normal for me) that after Midnight Mass we'd come home and mom would fix breakfast...then we'd go to bed and the next morning we'd open our Christmas gifts and see what Santa had brought. I can't imagine having 5 wound up kids in the middle of the night and getting them settled down. 

I do remember one Christmas my brothers and sisters and I put on a nativity play in the living room with the tree as a background.  I don't have any clue how old I was.  I know I was under 12 years of age because it was at our old house, we moved when I was 12.


I do remember candlelight services in the churches when I was older....they were beautiful too.  But the fire department stopped allowing them because of the fire danger...we went to little battery powered candles but it was just not the same.

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Advent Calendar - December 19 - Christmas Shopping

Today is Christmas Shopping day at Geneabloggers.com (a group of worldwide genealogists writing about their family history). The prompts or suggested ideas for the month of December relate to the the Advent season.  This is my eighth post using the Advent prompts.

1) How did your family handle Christmas shopping?

I don't remember much about my mom's Christmas shopping - I'm sure she had lots of it since there were 5 of us kids.  And we got presents from my parents as well as Santa.

2) Did anyone finish early or did anyone start on Christmas Eve?

I personally USED to have all my Christmas shopping done by Labor Day...completed, wrapped, hidden away, and ready to put under the tree. I'd start the day after Christmas (somehow the crowds on the day after Christmas did not bother me as much as Black Friday).  I also use to make at least one Christmas gift a year...crocheted blanket, needlepoint picture, homemade jam.  I'd work hard to have these completed by Labor Day too...although once in awhile I'd be rushing around at Thanksgiving time to complete it.

In my old(er) age I've gotten lazy...now it's Cyber Monday here I come....I really enjoy shopping online or on QVC rather than fighting the crowds anymore.  I can honestly say there seems to be a wider selection and it takes A LOT less time.  I would say 90-95% of my shopping is done online and most of what we give are gift cards.  Too easy!

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Advent Calendar - December 18 - Christmas Stockings

Today is Christmas Stocking day at Geneabloggers.com (a group of worldwide genealogists writing about their family history). The prompts or suggested ideas for the month of December relate to the the Advent season.  This is my seventh post using the Advent prompts. 

When we were kids we did not have fancy or store bought Christmas stockings, we just used our own socks that we wore everyday...I remember thinking once that it was fair that my older brother had bigger feet than I did.  He always seemed to get more than the rest of us. But then I was 2nd oldest so my younger brother and sisters must have felt the same way.  Santa would fill the stockings mostly with edible stuff like oranges, unwrapped candy, and nuts.  My sister remembers the unwrapped candy would stick together and to the socks making them hard to remove.  I don't remember gifts being in the socks...just the candy, fruit, and nuts.


When our kids were little my mother-in-law made the above Christmas sockings for the kids and hubs.  But she forgot me (GASP)....finally about 1990 I asked her if she would make one for me also....she could not believe she had never made me one and she most graciously had it ready for me for the next Christmas.


Santa would fill our kids stockings with candy - mainly lifesavers, some small gifts (hair bows, ribbons, matchbox cars, etc) and always McDonald's gift certificates. 

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Advent Calendar - December 14 - Fruitcake

Today is Fruitcake day at Geneabloggers.com (a group of worldwide genealogist writing about their family history) the prompts or suggested ideas for the month related to the Advent season. This is my sixth (hopefully not last) post using the Advent prompts.

I apologize - I was unable to keep up with the prompts over this past weekend as we were out of town for a family reunion/Christmas party.  Read my post for Sunday, December 12 to hear all about it. 

Our Prompt for today is: Fruitcake 

Did you like fruitcake? Did your family receive fruitcakes? Have you ever re-gifted fruitcake? Have you ever devised creative uses for fruitcake?

Did you like fruitcake?  

No, and I'm a lover of most anything.  Oh, I'll eat it, or a small portion of it, just to keep the maker of it happy.

Did your family receive fruitcakes?  

Mom and Dad use to receive fruitcakes.  Mom use to make them every year also and give them as gifts.  My family never received them...unless mom and dad gave us one...but I would not swear to that.

Have you ever re-gifted fruitcake?  

No, never received one to my knowledge to 're-gift'

Have you ever devised creative uses for fruitcake?

Maybe using it for an odd shaped ball to toss around when all the gifts were unwrapped and while waiting for dinner. 

A couple of Fruitcake Recipes provided to me by my sister (these are ones mom used to make and so has my sister). 

Refrigated Fruitcake

1lb graham crackers, ground up

1lb marshmallow's

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup Brandy

1lb mixed glazed fruit

 

Melt marshmallows with milk

Add brandy

After melted, add ground up graham crackers, mix well

Add fruit, mix well

Form into 2 loaf pans pressing in

Refrigerate

Slice thin and keep refrigerated

2nd Fruitcake Recipe

2lbs pitted dates,

1lb candied cherries

1 lb whole brazil nut meats

1lb halved or broken walnut meats

2 cups all purpose flour, leveled

1 1/4 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

4 eggs

Leave the dates and cherries whole and mix thoroughly with the whole Brazil nuts and walnuts.

Add flour and baking powder and salt into fruit and nut mixture. Stir until fruit and nuts are

well coated.

Beat eggs and add to mixture mixing well with your hands so that fruit and nuts are thoroughly coated.

Line a greased 10 by 6 inch baking pan and press down with your hands so there are no empty spaces.

Bake in a slow oven 300 for 1 hour 15 minutes.

To crack Brazil nuts easily, freeze them with shells on and crack frozen

4 Cups of shelled walnuts = 1lb

3 Cups pitted dates = 1lb

3 Cups Brazil nuts = 1lb

Lets don't forget the REAL reason for the season!

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Christmas and Family 'Reunions'

Margaret Troyer Post's descendants and spouses/children

I just got home from my sister's house where we had a Christmas party/family reunion.  We had not had a family get together in 15 years.  We had to travel from Arizona to California but it was well worth the time/effort.  I've been planning this reunion since before Labor Day and it was disappointing that out of 130 descendants of my grandparents - Elmer Troyer and Mary Motzko Troyer that only 26 showed up for the reunion.  But let me tell you we had the cream of the crop when it came to the descendants.  Elmer and Mary had 2 children - my mother Margaret Troyer Post and her sister Dorothy Troyer Haines.  Four out of five of Margaret's children (now the 'elders' in the family) showed up with spouses for the party.  Dorothy had 4 children and all of them showed up.. Several of the next generation came (grandchildren of Margaret and Dorothy) and one of the current generation of great grandchildren. 

Dorothy Troyer Haines' children/spouses

I felt sad that more of the younger ones did not come.  Some are just too busy with raising families and others just don't care.   But I'm really excited because 2 of my cousins brought me some awesome "older" pictures...some going back to the 1800's, and I received many pictures from after the turn of the century.  I'm ready to scan away at these.  Another cousin told me she had a box full of pictures in the back of one of her closets...she says that I really wouldn't want them because they are undated and there are no names on them and they are 'really old'....I'm still working on her to let me borrow them.  She's hesitant to give them up even for a little while.

The older couple sitting in the bottom picture are my oldest cousin and her husband.  Both are in bad health, she has Alzheimer's and he has Parkinson's disease....they were both such a pleasure to have at the get-together...there were a few problems getting them there but we finally worked it out...it would not have been the same without them.  She spent quite a bit of time flirting with the guys!  She may have lost her memory but she has not lost her sense of humor!

Genesis 1:22   And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Advent Calendar - December 9 - Nativity Scene

Today is Grab Bag day at Geneabloggers.com (a group of worldwide genealogist writing about their family history) the prompts or suggested ideas for the month related to the Advent season. This is my fifth (hopefully not last) post using the Advent prompts.

Our prompt for today is:  Grab Bag

I'm doing it on my beautiful Avon Nativity Scene...I started collecting these in the early 1980's.  I've got the main set but am missing some of the miscellaneous pieces.  There are a total of 23 pieces to complete the set. I've got 15 pieces. Two of my pieces have been broken over the years (the angel on the far right broke this year).  I'm missing a total of 8 pieces to compete the set.  Some day I may purchase these, one at a time.  I googled the missing pieces and it will cost me almost $550 to purchase them.

I have the main pieces of the scene...after all even if I just have Jesus that's all that counts.  He IS the reason for the season!

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Advent Calendar - December 8 - Christmas Cookies

At Geneabloggers.com (a group of worldwide genealogist writing about their family history) the prompts or suggested ideas for the month relate to the Advent season. This is my fourth (hopefully not last) post using the Advent prompts.

Our prompt for today is:  Christmas Cookies



Mom always made tons of cookies for Christmas.  Well, I assume she 'always' did....I remember as a teenager the house always smelled so good - it seemed from the start of December until the big day.  She'd make fudge too - two batches, one with nuts, one without.  And fruitcake - two different kinds - a loaf one and another in a cake pan.  There were cut-out sugar cookies and tons of others. We kids were 'happy campers' during December.  I don't remember helping her, but that doesn't mean I didn't because I don't remember a lot of things.

When hubs and I bought our first home we were 'warned' by neighbors of the 'bad people' who lived next door to us and that we should stay away from them.  Poor next door neighbors never had a chance - we stuck our noise up in the air and ignored them totally....which surprises me that we did this because it's out of our nature but I guess we just wanted to appease the masses.  Anyway come our first December in the house 'next door neighbor' shows up at our door with a wrapped box - of assorted home made Christmas cookies!!!  Then there was the discussion of should we eat them or not.  Of course we did!  For 10 years after that there was always a box of cookies from her....I remember Mrs. Elliott well.  Our kids looked forward to them all year and they devoured the cookies as fast as they could.  Mrs. Elliott was probably a little younger than I am now, she was divorced and she still had a teenage daughter living at home.  We not only got cookies for Christmas but we gained good friends.  The daughter and I became best friends and we still keep in touch now (40 years later).  This incident taught me a lesson that I should have already known - "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged"  (Luke 6:37).

Since the kids are grown I've stopped baking too many cookies at Christmas time - but I still try to bake one batch of simple cut-out cookies for the hubs to enjoy.  Other than that he's limited to cookies at parties or at friends.  This way we don't overdo and eat them all!

Have you ever left a cookie for Jesus?  After all it's His birthday!

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Advent Calendar - December 6 - Santa Claus

At Geneabloggers.com (a group of worldwide genealogist or people writing about their family history) the prompts or suggested ideas for the month relate to the Advent season. Many of the Geneabloggers are writing something everyday using the prompt provided.  This is my second (hopefully not last) post using the Advent prompts.

Our prompt for today is:  Did you ever send a letter to Santa? Did you ever visit Santa and "make a list?" Do you still believe in Santa Claus?

Did you ever send a letter to Santa?

I honestly don't remember if I did or if my kids did.  But Santa asked me one year if I would send cards to my kids friends from him.  He said he was VERY busy and just did not have time to do it himself.  He asked me when our first born was about 2 years old and continued it for several years...I never did 'fest up' to the parents that they came from me.  It was fun to hear them talking about it.

Did you ever visit Santa and "make a list?"

I'm sure I must have but again I don't remember.  We took our oldest son to visit Santa in the store when he was about two...it was a scary situation for him and I'm sure that's why we decided not to do the same with the other children.  Hubs used to work for IBM and there were Company Christmas parties which Santa always attended and brought gifts to give to ALL the children who came.  

A few times we drove up to Santa's Village....lots of snow...in the mountains near Big Bear, California.  I remember a Santa's Village off the freeway around Santa Barbara, California that we stopped at also.

Santa did come to visit us one year at a large family reunion when the kids were younger, and also again in 1995 at another family reunion when a different generation of nieces and nephews enjoyed him (as well as their parents). 





to the oldest - Dorothy Troyer Haines



from the youngest





Santa was REALLY busy a couple of years just before Christmas and hubs graciously agreed to fill in for him at a couple of school events.

Do you still believe in Santa Claus? 

Of course, I do!!!!!!!  What a silly question to ask!  Is there any doubt?

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

 

Poinsettia Festival 2010

Saturday morning my daughter and I decided to make some memories that we hope to share with our descendants someday. 

Kim is my biggest fan when it comes to reading my blogs - always has a comment either in reply to the most recent post, or as a 'like' on Facebook, or in a verbal comment.  She's the one who got me started on this blog almost a year ago.

Anyway, on Saturday we visited the Poinsettia Festival at Gardener's World in Phoenix, Arizona.  There were MANY beautiful poinsettias, as well as a few other flowers on display.  We walked around through them for a couple hours.  There were also craft booths, food booths, etc set up for those who wanted to browse.
 

Kim was my photographer for the day (my camera had a dead battery) and she did a wonderful job on some of the shots - ENJOY!





Click on each picture to enlarge and then click the arrow in the left hand corner to return to this page.

P.S. Can anyone give me any clues as to how to post lots of pictures like this?

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Veterans Day 2010 - Thanks to everyone!

To all those who served in the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and any other branch of the service I salute you!  Some of my family members who graciously served their country, some drafted, some volunteered - include 2 brothers, my father, 1 son, and various ancestors though out the years.

Some of those from my family I honor today are:

1. Robert Bernard Gleason aka Bernardum Robertum Gleason (son of Thomas Gleason and Hedvig Motzko) Killed during World War II (He would be my 2nd cousin)

2. Robert Max Priser (3.20.1923 to 10.20.1944) - son of Fred Earl Priser/Velma Kime, grandson of Benjamin Frank Priser/Nancy Schrock, great grandson of Yost and Martha (Plank) Schrock.  Killed in Italy during World War II (He would be a second cousin)





3. Hays Coulter Post (2.15.1913 to 2.25.1987) - son of Orvey Post and Bess Coulter Post.  Served in the Army, honorable discharge October 1941. (My father)



1962 - James J. Post
(my big brother)



4. James Joseph Post (7.9.1942 to 12.27.1993) - son of Hays Coulter Post/Margaret Troyer.  Retired U.S. Air Force 1982.  Served in Viet Nam. (My brother)



5. H. Christopher Post (birth date withheld) son of Hays Coulter Post/Margaret Troyer

                                                                                         

Manue H Warren (Left)
1925-1929

6. Manuel H. Warren (4.16.1905 - 8.22.1965) - son of Archie Warren. U.S. Navy (1925-1929)

Howard Warren
1957-1961

7. M. Howard Warren (birth date withheld for privacy) - son of Manuel H.  Warren/Myrtle Engel.  U.S Army (Germany 1957-1961)

8. William H. Warren (birth date withheld for privacy) - son of Howard Warren/Mary Post. MU.S. Army (Germany 1983-1991). Served in Persian Gulf

Thank you to these special people and to all who served our country is such a self-less way.





Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Monthly Events - November

I'm doing this monthly for your convenience. Events of our family and our ancestors - birth-dates, marriages, deaths will be listed each month for that month. (Those currently living will not have their last name nor full dates posted).  There's not much going on this month or in December for that matter.  Dates must have been planned so as not to conflict with the holidays :)

November 2, 2010  DON'T FORGET TO VOTE - mid term elections - voting for Senators/Governors/etc
November 16, 19-- John (brother-in-law) - Birthday
November 17, 19-- Joseph (nephew) - Birthday
November 25, 2010 THANKSGIVING
November 30, 1974 Chris and Barbara ________ (brother and dear sister-in-law)

This list is by no means complete - it's a project in the workings. If I missed anyone please accept my apologies and let me know.  Watch for this on on the first of each month.



Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Dedicated to Ceasar

Ceasar (on left) - photo taken 2005)

Ceasar

A rescued dog adopted by us 

May 1997 - October 31, 2010

We loved you Ceasar and we'll miss you greatly.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
 
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... 

Author unknown...

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

Writing Analysis

I write like

J. K. Rowling

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Recently I went to a website, at the advice of other gennabloggers, and had my writing analyzed.  The website tells you which writer you most resemble in writing style.  It was an interesting concept.  I just copied and pasted one of my blog postings and it came up J.K. Rowling.  Now mind you, I have not read anything by Ms. Rowling...not the Harry Potter series nor anything else she may have written.  I just may have to check out some of her books.  

Click on my 'badge' above and have your writing analyzed.


Mary Post Warren 
© copyright 2010, all rights reserved



Fun Fotos From Fourth of July 2010

Fun Fotos From Fourth of July taken at friends of our daughter's house where we spent the 4th of July, eating, talking, eating, and talking, and then eating some more.  Great food, nice people, awesome time.

These are the pants Howard has worn every year for 40 years (see yesterdays blog for the full story on these). The shirt has changed a couple times - we bought this one last year.  My pants I bought after the 4th last year at a thrift store - $2.00. You can't see them but I have on red, white, and blue Birkenstock sandals.

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved, Mary Post Warren

Fourth of July 2010 Ramblings

My husband, in his usual patriotic way, dressed in the red, white and blue that he has dressed in every Independence Day since the late1960s.  The material the pants are made out of is the old polyester double knit, which like the energizer bunny, just keeps going and going and going. Our kids love to tell the stories of 4th of July parties, or 4th of July church functions, or working in fire works stands and their dad wore this outfit. It is one of their earliest memories.


Not only is this outfit like the energizer bunny but my hubby is also like the  energizer bunny - at age 74 he just does not quit.  He keeps going and going and going. He still works part time, he runs my errands, he is the first one to offer his hand if someone needs a helping one. He also volunteers at our church and he visits many of the older people from church when they are in rest homes, assisted living, hospice, or the hospital.  He's my hero....thankfully our kids feel the same way about him. Anyone who does all this and still wears the same pair of pants after almost 40 years has to be my idol!  Plus he's put up with me for over 46 years.  HE ROCKS!

Howard looks much like Las Vegas' infamous mayor, Oscar Goodman.  Oscar has a colorful past with ties to the mafia. He's also been known to fall off stages while giving a toast at some function.  He's usually got a  showgirl on each arm at these events.  When we lived in Las Vegas people would stop us asking for his autograph.   He HATES to be compared to him - but he does 'play' it for all it's worth.

And that my friends is a tribute to MY #1 Uncle Sam!

Mary Post Warren 
© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

46 years and counting

The other day (April 25, 2010) my honey and I celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary.  People ask me what's our 'What's your secret for lasting so long'....there is NO secret.  It's all about God, commitment and respect.  We never went into this thinking we could divorce if things don't work out, too many today do that....we went into marriage for life and life it will be.  Don't get me wrong, I know there are reasons for having to divorce - infidelity, abuse - but we know that with God as our 'pilot' (not co-pilot) we made it this far!

In a few months I will go to my 50th high school reunion, and a few years later we look forward  to celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary....as we await the next 50 years of life.  What will it bring - how much will things change - we can't answer these questions but we do know that the best years of our lives are yet to come! 

Mary Post Warren

© copyright 2010, all rights reserved

New Year's Resolutions and Other Things.

2009 wasn't a great year, with God's Grace we made it through. It could of been worse if not for the faith we had that God would pull us through. We are loving Phoenix and ready to move on with life no matter what God has for us. New Years resolutions: 1) grow closer to God, trust in Him more - can we ever get close enough? 2) scan/ organize 45+ yrs of photos and memories. What do you think will be harder?

Onward and Upward! 2010 here we come!